“It means so much for a family to be able to finally get a vacation after spending so much time with illness and worry.”
Jason was the six-year-old son of Jim and Linda Lewis. They went through the ordeal of doctors, hospitals, chemo and cancer fighting procedures. When the battle was lost, they and a daughter settled in Myrtle Beach. When they said,“Oh, Jason would have loved this,” inspiration took hold.
Early each year, Jason’s House Committee members and volunteers solicit support of business owners who provide, free of charge, the needed rooms, meals and entertainment. Owners and managers are in constant change, so each year is a fresh challenge to acquaint people with the program. Rooms must be assured by mid-April to begin assigning families.
Doctors, nurses and social workers at hospitals in four Southeastern states; North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia identify families who most need to escape all their taxing routine, to enjoy together the fun and excitement of the beach scene.
Families come for their scheduled weeks on Saturday or Sunday, June through August, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. A bright banner reading, “Welcome to Jason’s House,” hangs outside the church. They are welcomed and put through a briefing intended to put them totally at ease. One parent wrote back:
“To be treated so nicely by people who didn’t know us gave me a better outlook toward the future.”
The Myrtle Beach Corvette Club supports Jason’s house as one of our charities and provides the families and children a chance to go for a drive around the parking lot in our Corvettes. Members may sign up to be a driver at any of our monthly meetings or by contacting our club’s Activities Director. A small donation of your time can bring so much joy to a very sick child please consider doing this.
